“The Sopranos” Is The Best Written TV Show Ever? Sure. Except For The Last Episode.

The Writers Guild of America has released its list of the 101 Best Written TV Series. “The Sopranos” won the overall prize, which makes me feel as if I’m a part of it, seeing how I had to create the ending.

The Sopranos was named the best-written show in television history by the Writers Guild of America, edging out an eclectic collection of some of the most beloved and admired series.

I really don’t have much beef with this list, except I thought the season of “The Wire” about the Baltimore school system may have been the best written single season of a series. Even if the ending left me with an empty, aching feeling.

Here’s the top 10:

The Sopranos (juggling the nuances of the characters alone is worth this award)

Seinfeld (making nothing a character takes craft)

The Twilight Zone (some of these episodes crossed over into political and racial commentary without beating you over the head with it)

All in the Family (broached topics never covered on TV, before or since)

M*A*S*H (brought humanity to war)

The Mary Tyler Moore Show (the voice of a new generation of women)

Mad Men (taking on the 60’s from a different angle)

Cheers (barflies as family, I saw it in real life, so this show rang true)

The Wire (some seasons superior to others, but the show always left me wanting more)

The West Wing (never got into it when it ran, but I’ve seen clips of this show that have brought me to tears)

I was glad to see some personal favorites make the cut, especially “Freaks and Geeks”, which I think is the best high school show ever, capturing the awkwardness, and the humor of it all. LOST, Northern Exposure and Twin Peaks were also honored.